Photographer's Note

The Natural Park of Gallipoli Cognato - Small Dolomites of Basilicata is a regional park, established in 1997 located at "Palace" in the municipality of Accettura
At the headquarters of the managing of the park are also a natural history museum, a botanical garden, workshops and an information center. Pian di Gilio The visitor center is located nearby, at the sanctuaries of the deer and the deer, always in the municipality of Accettura, along the "path of May", is the Museum of worship trees.
The need to protect the forests of Gallipoli and the Dolomites Cognato Lucan had been reported as early as 1971, when the RNC had identified the area as a habitat to be protected. It was then established anthropological State Reserve of Monte Croccia protection of the archaeological Croccia Cognato, now inside the park, which houses the remains of a prehistoric settlement of ancient Lucania, dating between the sixth and fourth centuries BC, found on top of the mountain of the same name.
In the following years several bills were presented for the establishment of a theme park and the municipalities that are part of the area that gave rise to today's body tried to form a consortium to establish a protected area, but the park nature was established only in 1997.
The park stretches between the provinces of Matera and Potenza and includes the territories of the mountain communities Basento Upper, Middle and Basento Hill Matera.
The peaks are the most important part, of course, Luke and the Apennines, the slope of Matera, dell'Impiso Mount (1319 m) and Mount Croccia (1149 m). The rivers that flow in the watersheds are part of this side of the river basin Cavone and between them is the main stream Salandrella. Among the Lucan Dolomites and the slopes are covered by the Forest Gallipoli BrotherInLaw a deep gorge flows the Rio Caperrina, right tributary of the Basento. In fact, near the confluence of these two rivers is the ramp that leads from Basentana, following their directions, which is at the heart of the Dolomites Accettura Lucane (Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa). It is here that hidden artifacts from the road bends Basento the "Old Bridge", from its origins tied to an ancient legend that is handed in Pietrapertosa.
The territories of three municipalities in the province of Matera (Accettura, lime and Oliveto Lucano), covers about 4200 hectares of forest Cognato Gallipoli, which starts from the valley to get to the Basento 1319 m above sea level Mount Croccia, its highest peak. In the territory of Accettura is also Montepiano forest, an old turkey oaks planted with deciduous forest, which covers about 800 hectares. Accettura is held every year since the day of Pentecost, the Feast of May, a traditional wedding ceremony between two trees from the forest and forest Montepiano Cognato of Gallipoli. As evidence of the importance of the cults have trees in this part of the Apennines Luke, the other party or wedding in May of the trees are also celebrated in Oliveto Lucano, 10 to 12 August, Castelmezzano, 12 and 13 September, and Pietrapertosa, on the occasion of the celebrations for St. Anthony of Padua in June.
The province of Potenza, however, belong to the Lucan Dolomites, mountains made of quartz sandstone rocks belonging to the series of flysch Gorgoglione, profoundly shaped by the weather and the events that characterize the geological history of this portion of Basilicata. These mountains are so called because their peaks are characterized by high peaks that recall some of the most famous peaks of the Dolomites mountain real, with special shapes so as to have very fanciful names suggested. The same towns of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa are extraordinarily picturesque, it is clinging to the cliffs of the mountains that surround them and with their forms give rise to picturesque scenery and breathtaking landscapes.
The highest peaks of the Dolomites of Lucania, which belong to the province of Potenza, is the "Mount Caperrina", which reaches 1455 m above sea level, "Serra's Red" (1179 m) which is the highest peak of the mountain range called " Coast Red "(visible for long stretches of road that leads to and from the wood of Gallipoli Accettura-brother in law) and" Monte Murge ", of 1004 m.
In the forests of Gallipoli Cognato Montepiano vegetation differs greatly depending on altitude. Below 1,000 m s.l.m. There are examples of wild apple and maple, while above this altitude, the dominant species is oak, sometimes with impressive specimens, and sometimes appear the hornbeam, the Hop-hornbeam, holly and lime. In the area of the Dolomites, there are chestnut, while higher areas are rocky and devoid of arboreal vegetation, but there are species of plants such as red valerian and Onosma Lucan (the latter is an endemic species). The mountain is covered with Caperrina Finally cerrete and vast grasslands.
At the waterways is the ash, while areas where the vegetation is less dense, there are many plants such as cyclamen, anemones, ferns and Knautia Luke, another endemic species.
Among the most important mammal specimens in the area of the park are the wolf, fox, badger, porcupine, wild cat, wild boar. Deer and deer have been reintroduced into an oasis of wildlife in the forest of Gallipoli Cognato. The rat snake and the four-lined snake reptiles are easier to meet.
There are also birds of prey: red kites, peregrine falcons, buzzards and kestrels, the most common birds of prey, while there are between night owl, the owl and the owl. In rivers you can find various types of frogs, salamanders and newts.

Ciao Silvio,
a really spectacular sight of this high altitude Natural park of the village that is found on the rocks.I like the wild beauty of the image with the colours and the light to are well managed.

This is an amazing view, with the village hiding in the shade from the rugged mountains!
The framing gives a good impression of the wild landscape, interesting scenery with a strong feeling of depth...

Hell Silvio, you have a fascinating note attached to this image.. National Parks are a place to treasure all over the world.. wonderful places to roam and loose your soul.. have a wonderful evening Rich